From the Office of the President

Announcement sent to faculty, staff, and students

August 23, 2006

University Community:

Welcome Weekend is a time of tremendous energy and excitement for all involved – students, parents, staff, and faculty. In the coming weeks, you will receive more detailed information regarding the full schedule of events. But in advance, I wish to draw your attention particularly to the events on Monday September 18, events designed to welcome all of us home and celebrate what makes Santa Clara University a truly dynamic community.

As last year, there will be an abbreviated class schedule in the morning. The Mass of the Holy Spirit will be celebrated in the Mission Church at 12 noon followed by a lunch on Bellomy Field and then University Convocation at 2:15 p.m.

I am pleased to announce that Steve Nash, Class of 1996, will serve as our keynote speaker for University Convocation. Steve receives most of his recognition as a professional basketball player and back-to-back MVP for the Phoenix Suns. However, these athletic accomplishments represent only one aspect of who Steve is as a person.

Steve also gives considerably to his community, both local and global. He founded the Jim Jennings Memorial Endowment Fund, a memorial established in honor of a volunteer staff member at SCU who served the Broncos basketball team for more than 20 years. In 2001, he founded The Steve Nash Foundation “to aid underprivileged children in their health, personal development, education, and enjoyment of life.” He was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time; the magazine invited Charles Barkley to write a story describing Steve’s generosity and philanthropy. Barkley wrote in great detail about Steve’s unselfishness, underscoring his work to build a pediatric cardiology ward in a children’s hospital in Asuncion, Paraguay.

Steve lives the Jesuit educational ideal of being a person for others and a leader and citizen of competence, conscience, and compassion. We are honored that he will return to Santa Clara to reflect on the meaning of his education and the value of this community to his life. Given the space of our facility, we will be limiting attendance at the University Convocation only to Santa Clara students, staff, faculty, and invited guests. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis (faculty participating in the processional will have reserved seating), and, other than those in the procession, all who attend will be asked to show their ACCESS ID card to gain admission.

As I mentioned, you will receive more information regarding Welcome Weekend events. You are also invited to visit www.scu.edu/welcomeweekend for more information. I look forward to your participation in these important community events.